Refrigerator cabinet structure



Nov. 24, 1953 F. R. EcK

REFRIGERATOR CABINET STRUCTURE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 27. 1951INVENTOR.

FLOYD R. EGK

Nov. 24, 1953 F. R. ECK

REFRIGERATOR CABINET STRUCTURE 6v Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 27. 1951INVENTOR.

ATTO RNES f f//C/ i C FLOYD R. ECK ABY ,MJ/f

Nov. 24, 1953 F. R. ECK

' REFRIGERATOR CABINET STRUCTURE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 27. 1951INVENTOR.

FLOYD R. ECK

ATTORNEYS Nov. 24, 1953 F. R. EcK 2,660,505

REFRIGERATOR CABINET STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 27. 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 5FIG.|O.

INVENTOR.

FLOYD R. ECK

Nov. 24, 1953 F. R. EcK

REFRIGERATOR CABINET STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 27. 1951 INVENTOR. FLOYD R.ECK

FIG.||.

Patented Nov. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATOR CABINETSTRUCTURE Floyd It. Eck, Des Plaines, Ill., assignor to Motor ProductsCorporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of New York 2l) Claims.

This invention relates generally to refrigerator cabinets of the typeequipped with mechanical refrigerating apparatus, and refers moreparticularly to improvements in the base structure of such cabinets.

It is an object or this invention to provide an exceptionally rigidstructure composed of a relatively few simple parts capable of beinginexpensively manufactured and assembled on a volume production basis.

It is another object of this invention to provide a refrigerator cabinetwith a base structure providing ample space beneath the bottom wall ofthe outer shell for accommodating the motorcompresscr unit and condensorof suitable refrigerating apparatus.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a base structurewhich, although inexpensive to manufacture, affords exceptionalstability; and at the same time, imparts a neat and pleasing appearanceto the lower portions of the cabinet.

The foregoing as well as other objects will be made more apparent asthis description proceeds, especially when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a iront elevational view of a rerigerator cabinet having thedoor removed for the sake of clearness;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line E-2 ofFigure l;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 ofFigure fl;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line fil-l of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the lower part oi therefrigerator cabinet structure;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 'l-l of Figure 8;

Figure 8 is a sectional View taken on the line :ll-8 of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 9 of Figure d;

Figure l0 is an exploded semidiagrammatic `perspective view of a part ofthe cabinet structure;

Figure ll is a sectional view taken on the line ll-ll of Figure 2;l

Figure 12 is a fragmentary front elevational view having certain partsremoved for the sake o clearness; and

Figure 13 is a fragmentary perspective View partly in section of onelower rear corner of the refrigerator cabinet structure.

The refrigerator cabinet structure selected herein for the purpose ofillustration comprises an outer shell 20 and an inner shell 2l. Theouter shell 2t has top, bottom, side and rear walls 22, 23, 2li and 25respectively. The inner shell 2l has top, bottom, side and rear walls26, 2l, 28 and 29 respectively spaced laterally inwardly from thecorresponding walls of the outer shell to provide a space 3Q of sucientdepth to accommodate to a thick mass of heat insulating material 3l. Theinner shell 2l provides a food storage compartment 32, and is open atthe front to form an access opening 33, which is normally closed by adoor (not shown) suitably hinged along one side edge to an adjacent sideof the cabinet structure.

As shown particularly in Figure 13 of the drawings, the side and rearwalls 24 and 25 respectively of the outer shell 2l) extend below thebottom wall 23 to a point in close proximity to the floor or othersurface on which the cabinet is supported. The opposite side edges ofthe bottom wall 23 are turned downwardly to provide side ilanges 34which are flared outwardly to lit against the adjacent side walls of theouter shell 2l), and the rear edge is turned upwardly to provide aflange 35 which is welded or otherwise secured to the rear wall 25 ofthe outer shell. The front edge of the bottom Wall 23 extends forwardlyto the plane of the access opening 33, and is turned upwardly (Figures 2and l0) to provide an attaching flange 33.

In order to refrigerate the storage compartment 32. a cooling unit or anevaporator 3l is suitably supported within the compartment 32 adjacentthe top of the latter. Refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator 3l byapparatus 38 substantially housed within the space 39 provided below thebottom wall 23 of the outer shell 20. The apparatus 38 comprises acondenser 40 and a motor-compressor unit di. As shown in Figure 2 of thedrawings, the bottom Wall 23 of the outer shell 20 is inclined or bowedupwardly as at d2 to provide clearance for the top of themotor-compressor unit 4l. Also the portion of the bottom wall 2l of theinner shell 2l directly above the portion 42 of the bottom wall 23 isinclined upwardly to provide ample space between these portions for theheat insulating material 3l.

The refrigerant supply apparatus 33 is suitably supported within thespace 39 on a rigid base structure 43. The specific manner in which therefrigerant supply apparatus is mounted on the base structure forms nopart of the present invention and is not described in detail herein. Thepresent invention concerns itself more particularly with the basestructure d3, and this structure comprises a pair of base rails d4, apair of vertical legs and a mullion 15.

The base rails li are shown in Figure l2 as spaced laterally from oneanother and as extending from the rear wall 23 of the outer shell 2@ toa point beyond the front of the cabinet. rlhe rails dd are generallychannel-shaped in cross section (Figure l) and are arranged with thechannels opening upwardly. The front ends of the rails 4.1i are rounded(Figure and are embosed downwardly tcprovide pads il which may directlyengage the flooring; or in case leveling of the cabinet is required, maybe provided with leveling screws lid. The leveling screws lil havethreaded shank portions which respectively threadably engage suitablenuts i9 (Figure 3) respectively welded or otherwise secured to theundersides of the pads di.

The rear ends of the rails 54 are embossed downwardly to provide pads 56and suitable nuts 5i are welded or otherwise suitably secured to thedownwardly embossed portions 50 for threadably engaging leveling screws52. As shown in Figure 13 or the drawings, the rear ends of the railslli are turned upwardly to provide flanges 53 which are welded orotherwise secured to the rear panel of the outer shell 20.

` The outer side flanges 54 on the rails 4d respectively abut the sidewalls 24 of the outer shell 20. lt will be noted that the bottom Wallsor" the rails 44 are slit at longitudinally spaced points adjacent theouter edges of the rails in the manner indicated by the referencecharacter 55 in Figure l2 to provide tabs 56 (Figure 13) which are bentdownwardly and are secured to the undersides of inturned anges 51 at thebottom edges of the side walls 24. Also the rear ends of the rails 44may be connected together by a cross member 5t, if desired.

The vertical legs 't5 are respectively positioned within the rails 44immediately in rear of the pads lil, and have base flanges 5drespectively welded or otherwise secured to the bottom walls of therails 4d. The outer edge portions of the legs lili are turned laterallyforwardly to form attaching ilanges 59, and the top edge portion of thelegs are also turned laterally forwardly to form an attaching flange6i). The inner edge portions are turned laterally rearwardly to providea reinforcing ange 6i which cooperates with suitable ribs 62 embossedfrom the body portions or the legs and with the ilanges 53, 59 and 65 toeilectively strengthen the legs. The outer edges of the legs 45,including the ilanges 59 are spaced laterally outwardly from adjacentsides of the rails ed; and for this purpose, the legs are notched as at53, Figure 10 of the drawings.

The outer edge portions of the legs 45, including the flanges 59, arerespectively located within inwardly opening channels S4 formed at thefront edges of the side walls 24 of the outer shell 20. Referring againto Figure 10 of the drawings, it will be noted that the channels 5f! areformed by turning the front edge portions of the side walls 2d laterallyinwardly, then laterally outwardly to provide ilanges 65 of doublethickness, then rearwardly in embracing relationship to the innersurfaces of the side walls 24, and then again laterally inwardly 'G0 4provide the ilanges EBS. This structure provides the base portions ofthe channels f with walls or" double thickness which are engaged by theon the legs The mullion dii extends along the bottom oi the accessopening 33 between the side walls 25x of the outer shell. The mullion ftcomprises a sheet metal rail having the bottom edge turned rearwardly toform a reinforcing ilange 7, and having the top edge fashioned to forman upwardly opening channel S8. r1he channel 65 is formed by turning thetop portion of the mullion downwardly (Figure 3) to provide a flange G9or" double thickness, then rearwardly to form the base "EQ of thechannel ES, and then upwardly to form. the opposite frange ii of thechannel The base lo seats on the flanges E@ of the legs d and is weldeder otherwise securely fastened to these flanges. The opposite endportions of the mullion are oset rearwardly to provide recesses l2 forrespec' vely receiving flanges E5 projecting inwardly from the frontedges of the side walls 2d cf the outer shell 20. The flanges 65 arerespectively welded or otherwise secured to the recessed portions 'i2 ofthe mullion 56. The ilange H of the mullion channel 51E is welded orotherwise xedly secured to the upstanding flange 35 at the front edge ofthe bottoni wall 23 of the outer shell 29, as shown particularly inFigure 3 of the drawings. Thus the mullion 136 not only provides astructural tie between the upper ends of the legs 25, but also serves asan effective brace for the lower portion of the outer shell 20.

lt will also be noted. from Figure l0 of the drawings that a portion ofthe mullion is embossed rearwardly to provide a recess i4 and the angel! is notched in registration with the recess to provide a clearanceopening 'l5 for the embossed portion. The purpose of the recess 14 is topermit convient passage of the plumbing provided for connecting therefrigerant supply apparatus 38 to the evaporator 3?. A cover 'I6 isprovided for closing the embossed portion 14 and thereby impart apleasing appearance to the front side of the mullion 5S.

In order to further stabilize the structure, the corners of the outershell are reinforced by corner gussets 71. The gussets 'l1 have verticallegs '.13 respectively projecting into the channels 64 at the frontedges of the side walls 24, and the legs 'I8 have forwardly projectingilanges which are respectively rigidly secured to the base portions ofthe anges 54. The gussets 'il have horizontal legs 'I9 which extend intoopposite ends of the mullion channel 68 and are rigidly secured to thebase 10 of the channel 68. Thus the gussets 'I'I provide an additionalrigid connection between the mullion 46 and the side walls 24 of theouter shell 2D. As shown in Figure 10 of the drawings the legs of thegussets have extended apertured portions 18 which serve as mountings forthe door (not shown) of the refrigerator cabinet.

The walls of the inner shell 2| are turned laterally outwardly at thefront edges to provide a reinforcing flange 80, and this flange isbraced by corner brackets 8l secured to the flange 8S at the bottomfront corners of the shell. 'The angle brackets 8l have lugs 82 whichare respectively secured to webs 83 of the gussets 'I8 by fastenerelements 84. The fastener elements 84 comprise studs 85 and nuts 8%. Thenuts 86 are shown in Figure 9 of the drawings as secured to the rearsides of the webs 83 on the gussets 11, and cooperate with the studs 854to hold the inner shell 2| in position relative to the outer shell 29.Suitable grommets BA1 of heat insulating material are located betweenthe webs 83` on the gussets 'I1 and the angle brackets 9i to avoid heattransfer therebetween.

The opening directly below the bottom edge of the mullion 46 isconcealed by a base trim member 88 in the form of a sheet metal housinghaving a front wall 89 and a top wall 90. The member 88 extends from oneside wall 24 of the outer shell 20 to the opposite side wall, and theends of the member are curved rearwardly to provide a pleasingappearance to the structure. As shown particularly in Figure 3 of thedrawings, the front wall 89 of the trim member 88 is embossed rearwardlyas at 9i and openings 92 are provided in the embossed portion 9i toprovid-e in eiect a grill through which air may pass over therefrigerant supply apparatus 38.

The opposite ends of the member 88 are removably attached to the anges65 on the side walls 24 by hangers 93 shown in Figures '7, 8 and of thedrawings. The hangers 93 are weided or otherwise respectively secured tothe anges 65 at the bottom of the outer shell and are provided withvertically spaced hooks 94. The opposite ends of the member 88 haveinturned flanges 95, and these anges are formed with openings 9Badjacent the top edges thereof. The arrangement is such that the bottomedges of the flanges 95 are engageable by the bottom hooks 94 on thehangers 93, and the top hooks 94 onk the hangers respectively projectthrough the openings 96 in the flanges 95 to engage the portions of theflanges above the openings 96. It will also be noted that suitablespacers 91 of resilient material are respectively secured to the flanges95 in positions to abut the hangers 93 and prevent rattling or shiftingmovement of the member 88 relative to the hangers. It will be noted thatthe trim member S8 also projects over the pad portions 4l' of thesupporting rails 44 and conceals the latter.

The space between the inner and outer shells at the front side of thecabinet is closed by a breaker strip 98 which extends completely aroundthe access opening 33. The lower section 99 of the breaker strip isshown in Figure 3 of the drawings as having a bifurcated portion 00 atthe bottom edge for receiving the top edge of the flange G9 on themullion c6. The top edge of the section 99 has an upstanding flange IBIwhich engages the front side of the flange 89 on the inner shell and haslugs |92 which project through openings i913 in the flange 89. Thebreaker strip 98 is of a heat resistant flexible material. It will benoted from Figure l0 of the drawings that the corner brackets 8l arealso apertured as at 104 in positions to register with the openings |03at the bottom front corners of the flange 89 to receive the adjacentlugs 102. The side and top portions of the breaker strip may besimilarly secured to the adjacent portions of the inner and outershells. In any case the breaker strip 98 is formed of a heat resistantmaterial having sufficient flexibility to permit snapping the strip inplace.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A refrigerator cabinet structure comprising an outer shell having abottom wall and having side walls which extend below the bottom wall, apair of laterally spaced base rails extending beneath the bottom wall ofthe shell from the front of the shell toward the rear of the latter andlon cated between said siderwalls, a pair of vertical legsrespectivelysecured at their lower ends to the base rails adjacent the front ends ofthe latter, a mullion extending between the side walls below the bottomwall of the shell and having its opposite end portions respectivelysecured to the upper ends of the legs, and inturned flanges on the sidewalls respectively secured to opposite ends of the mullion.

2. The refrigerator cabinet structure defi-ned in claim 1 wherein thebottom corners of the shell are reinforced by corner gussets havingvertical legs respectively secured to the shell and having horizontallegs secured. to the mullion.

3. The refrigerator cabinet structure defined inv claim 2 comprising aninner shell positioned within the outer shell and having side and bottomwalls spaced laterally from the side and bottom walls of. the outershell, angle brackets at the bottom corners of the inner shell havingangularly disposed legs respectively secured to adjacent portions of theinner shell, and means for respectively securing the angle brackets tothe corner gussets.

4^. A refrigerator cabinet structure comprising an outer shell having abottom wall and having side walls projecting below the bottom wall, apair of laterally spaced. base rails extending beneath the bottom wallfrom the front of the shell to the back of the latter and having thefront ends projecting forwardly beyond the front of the shell, a pair ofvertical' legs respectively secured at their lower ends to the baserails at points spaced rearwardly from the front end of said rails, amul'lion extending along the front edge of the bottom Wall between theupper ends of the legs, said mullion being. secured to the legs andhaving the portion between the legs secured to the bottom wall, and abase trim member extending along the mullion at the bottom of the latterand having the opposite ends enclosing the fron-t end portions of thebase rails.

5. The refrigerator cabinet structure defined in claim 4 having hangersremovably engageable with opposite ends of the base trim member andhaving openings for air in the front wall of said trim member.

6. A refrigerator cabinet structure comprising an outer shell having abottom wall and having side walls projecting below the bottom wall, apair of laterally spaced base rails extending beneath the bottom wall ofthe shell from the front of the shell toward the rear of the latter andpositioned between the side walls of the shell, a pair of vertical legsrespectively secured at the lower ends to the base rails adjacent thefront ends of the latter, a mullion positioned beneath the bottom walland extending along the front edge of said bottom Wall between thevertical legs, said mullion being secured to the legs and having aportion secured to said bottom wall, and inturned flanges on the sidewalls of the shell and respectively secured to the opposite ends of themullion.

7. The refrigerator cabinet structure defined in claim 6 wherein themullion has a rearwardly embossed portion providing a verticallyextending recess for accommodating a part of regrigerating apparatus,and a closure for said recess.

8. The refrigerator cabinet structure dened inv claim 6 wherein saidlegs have laterally turned flanges at the outer edges respectivelyengaging the side walls of the outer shell.

9. A refrigerator cabinet structure comprising an outer shell having abottom wall and having side walls projecting below the bottom wall, apair of laterally spaced base rails extending beneath the bottom wall ofthe shell from the front of the shell toward the rear of the latter andpositioned between the side walls, a pair of vertical legs respectivelysecured at their lower ends to the base rails and having portionsrespectively engaging adjacent portions of the outer shell, a mullionextending from one side wall of the outer shell to the other side wallalong the front edge of the bottom wall and secured to said legs, saidmullion having the top edge turned downwardly to provide a reinforcingflange arranged in embracing relationship to the rear side of themullion then turned rearwardly and then turned upwardly to provide anupwardly opening channel, and a flange extending laterally from thefront edge of the bottom wall of the shell and secured to the rearflange of the channel.

10. The refrigerator cabinet structure defined in claim 9 comprisingcorner gussets having vertical legs respectively secured to adjacentportions of said side walls and having horizontal legs seated within theupwardly opening channel on the mullion and secured to the base of saidchannel.

1l. The refrigerator cabinet structure defined in claim 10 wherein thefront edges of the side walls have laterally inwardly openingchannelshaped portions for respectively receiving the vertical legs ofthe corner gussets and wherein said vertical legs are secured toadjacent portions of the channels.

l2. A refrigerator cabinet structure comprising an outer shell having abottom wall and having side walls projecting below the bottom wall, apair of laterally spaced base rails extending be# neath the bottom wallof the shell from the front of the shell toward the rear of the latterand positioned between the side walls, a pair of vertical legsrespectively secured at their lower ends to the base rails and havingportions respectively engaging adjacent portions of the outer shell, anda mullion extending from one side wall to the other along the front edgeof the bottom wall and secured to the latter and to said legs, saidmullion having the top edge portion turned to extend downwardly inembracing engagement with the rear side of the mullion then turnedlaterally rearwardly and then upwardly to provide an upwardly openingchannel, a fiange turned laterally from the front edge of said bottorrLwall and secured to the rear flange of the channel, an inner shellpositioned within the outer shell and having side and bottom wallsspaced from the side and bottom walls of the outer shell, and a breakerstrip bridging the space between the mullion and bottom wall of theinner shell and having the opposite edge portions respectively attachedto the mullion and the front edge of the bottom wall of the inner shell.

13. The refrigerator cabinet structure defined in claim 12 comprisingcorner gussets having vertical legs respectively secured to the outershell and having horizontal legs secured to the base portion of theupwardly opening channel on the mullion, corner angle brackets havingangularly extending legs respectively secured to adjacent portions ofthe inner shell, and means for respectively securing the corner bracketsto the gussets.

14. A refrigerator cabinet structure comprising an outer shell having abottom wall and having side walls which extend below the bottom wall, apair of laterally spaced base rails extending beneath the bottom wall ofthe shell from the front of the shell toward the rear of the latter andlocated between said side walls, a pair of vertical legs respectivelysecured at their lower ends to the base rails adjacent the front ends ofthe latter, a mullion extending between the side walls of the shellalong the front edge of the bottom wall of the shell and secured to bothsaid bottom wall and said legs, and corner gussets having horizontallyextending parts secured to the mullion at opposite ends of the latterand having vertically extending parts respectively secured to theadjacent side walls of the shell.

15. The refrigerator cabinet structure dened in claim 14 comprisingliner supporting hangers respectively secured to said gussets.

16. The refrigerator cabinet structure defined in claim 14 wherein saidlegs have vertically extending flanges at the outer edges respectivelyembracing the side walls of the shell.

17. The refrigerator cabinet structure defined in claim 14 wherein thefront vertical edges of the shell have laterally inwardly openingchannel-shaped portions and wherein the vertical parts of the gussetsrespectively project into said channel-shaped portions.

18. The refrigerator cabinet structure dened in claim 17 wherein saidlegs have vertically extending bearing surfaces at the outer edges whichrespectively project into the channelshaped portions at the front edgesof the side walls of the shell and have a bearing engagement with saidwalls.

19. The refrigerator cabinet structure defined in claim 18 wherein theopposite ends of the mullion respectively project into the channelshapedportions at the front edges of the side walls of the shell and aresecured to said walls.

In a refrigerator cabinet structure, a shell open at the front andhaving a bottom wall, side walls projecting below the bottom wall and.hav-

- ing laterally inwardly opening channels extend ing along the frontvertical edges, a pair of laterally spaced base rails extending beneaththe bottom wall of the shell from the front of the shell toward the backthereof and located between said side walls, a pair of vertical legsrespectively secured at their lower ends to the base rails adjacent thefront ends thereof and having bearing surfaces at the outer edgesrespectively projecting into the channels and engaging said walls, amullion extending between the side walls below the bottom wall of theshell and secured to the legs and said side walls.

FLOYD R. ECK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,047,996 Crosley July 2l, 1936 2,161,852 Collins June 13,1939 2,319,415 Lightfoot May 18, 1943 2,399,963 Vinton May 7, 19462,454,727 Wherry Nov. 23, 1948 2,509,614 Philipp May 30, 1950 2,535,790Fletcher Dec. 26, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 124,360Australia May 21, 1947

